Sustainable resource management is now an important issue for many paint manufacturers, who are developing more and more innovative, environmentally-friendly products such as water-based varnishes and woodstains.
So what are the current standards, and what role do volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play in them?
What are VOCs?
These are gaseous and vaporous substances of organic origin present in the air. They include hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and organic acids, as well as solvents, liquid fuels and synthetic substances produced in the form of VOCs.
In addition, it is quite possible that various compounds are present in the air.
For professionals, VOCs are again divided into two groups:
1. Very volatile organic compounds (VVOCs)
2. Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs)
What are the sources of VOCs?
These may be biological processes such as outside air sources, plant metabolism, putrefaction or degradation processes. In addition to these processes, there are also those resulting from technical processes (motor emissions) as well as industrial and commercial processes.
Possible indoor sources are products and materials for building construction and interior fittings (such as floor, wall and ceiling materials, paints, varnishes, adhesives, furniture and decorative materials, for example).
Maintenance, cleaning and leisure products, including smoking, food preparation and human metabolism, are also major sources of VOCs.
How do these compounds enter the air?
They occur when solvents or liquid fuels evaporate and liquid or pasty products dry. VOCs then enter the air in large quantities.
Although it may not be obvious, various substances that are not firmly incorporated into a product are also expelled into the air. These include residual solvents and plastic bricks (monomers), auxiliaries such as plasticisers, solubilisers, antioxidants, stabilisers and catalysts in the production process, as well as by-products such as perfumes, flame retardants and biocides.
Other VOCs are also terpenes: they are released into the air from materials and products of natural origin. This is the case with wood, for example.
What health effects can VOCs have?
Typical individual concentrations of VOCs are very low and there is no health risk.
VOCs, which cause real health problems, are more likely to occur just after construction and major renovations – it is important to work within current guidelines to reduce them as much as possible.
As a craftsman on a building site, we advise you to always wear a respiratory mask when working.
How can volatile organic compounds be avoided?
Probably the simplest tip to implement is to help consumers use quality products made from materials with low emissions of volatile organic compounds.
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